Brainscan
by John Flynn
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Amy Hargreaves, Edward Furlong, Frank Langella, James Marsh, T. Ryder SmithDirector: John Flynn
Brand: Sony
Producer: Andrew Martin
Producer: Bob Hayward
Producer: Earl Berman
Producer: Esther Freifeld
Producer: Jeffrey Sudzin
Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker
Writer: Brian Owens
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-04-01
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Model: M-UVDEL1
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Brainscan
Movie Review: Great Little Film Few Seem to Remember
Summary: 5 Stars
Edward Furlong plays Michael, a neglected, horror loving teenager those outside his circle might describe as creepy. He has the latest computer technology of his day (1994), and when it comes to horror-themed computer games, he's played 'em all. So, Michael is pretty unimpressed when his best friend, Kyle, tells him about "Brainscan", a new video game advertised in Fangoria Magazine promising horror thrills like never before. Still, ever bored with his teen-angsty frustrations (like spying on the hottie-hot-hottie next door, Kimberly, if you like the girl next door type, which I happen to like best), Michael finally decides to give Brainscan a try. Unlike anything he's played before, it uses a technique "similar to hypnosis", creating a virtual reality experience in mindless violence and murder at a level Michael never could have expected. The only problem is, once the game has been played, you have to keep playing till the game is finished, and whenever Michael plays a round, it seems someone around him has died.
"Brainscan" is a unique and clever, but sadly overlooked horror film from 1994, directed by the late John Flynn. Its story and the intended source of horror, in my opinion, lies in Michael's unintentional acts of murder, fear of being caught by a hard detective played by the always great Frank Langella, and the pressure he is under to reluctantly commit more crimes, causing him to feel completely hopeless in the situation and slowly driving him to madness. However, most viewers seem to focus their attention on "Trickster" (played by T. Ryder Smith), a game-host character who appears to Michael more and more, urging him to keep playing, and who perhaps puts many in mind of a not so scary but slightly more annoying Freddy Krueger. Here lies a problem Brainscan has with much of its audience, and I think the problem with folks wanting Trickster to be scary (and complaining that he isn't): he's not supposed to be very scary. I see him as more of a mythological trickster type character with a taste for the more horrific. Think along the lines of the tricksters on "Supernatural" or "Q" on "Star Trek the Next Generation", or Superman's old nemesis, Mr. Mxyzptlk; all tricksters with near limitless powers, and Brainscan's Trickster just seems to be a really horrible one who gets great entertainment from murder and messin' with people's heads. Then again, that's if he is real at all, and the film doesn't make that totally clear. But, my point is, he's not the guy going around doing the killing here, and he's not supposed to be all that scary. Someone like Freddy Krueger trying to be all buddy-buddy with Michael wouldn't play off as well as it does with a slightly goofy but creepy enough looking/acting freakazoid like the Trickster. Another problem some folks might have with this film is the ending. I won't spoil it for you, but this sort of ending works in some films, and I think it works very well here. The only bit I didn't like (because it makes no sense) is the very tiny bit tacked on during the end credits involving the German Shepherd.
Putting aside the issues that some folks don't like the kind of ending "Brainscan" has, and many folks seemed to want it to be a "Nightmare on Elm Street" kind of film, which is totally not what it is supposed to be, "Brainscan", as it is, is a really interesting and fun ride. There's some goofball, '90's kind of stuff, but this is more like some of the classic supernatural horror of the 80's than most of the stuff we've gotten since the 80's, and yet it's not something I felt I had seen before. I'm really glad I stumbled upon the DVD recently, which I didn't even know existed. I had never forgotten this film since I first saw it in theaters shortly before starting college, partially because I always thought Amy Hargreaves (Kimberly) was a hottie in it (apparently, she was 24 when she made it, though playing 16), but also because it's such a fun flick. I just cannot believe it's already nearly 16 years old. Sadly, the DVD is bare bones, and the trailers it carries do not include one for the film. But, at least it's anamorphic widescreen, and I'm just happy to have discovered that it is even available! Highly recommended to horror fans everywhere; that is, now that you've been warned what to expect!
Summary of Brainscan
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